West Ham have struggled in the past few seasons but one shining light in the side has been the meteoric rise of Declan Rice.
The versatile teenager, capable of playing in the heart of defence or in a holding midfield role, has caught the eye after becoming a first-team regular under David Moyes before forcing his way back into the side this season under Manuel Pellegrini.
Still just 19, Rice is tipped for a bright future and a tug-of-war has already developed between the Republic of Ireland and England for his services on the international stage – and the latest reports are bad news for the former nation.
Despite representing Ireland throughout youth football and making three senior appearances for Martin O’Neill’s side, The Daily Star reports that Gareth Southgate has convinced the teenager to switch his allegiances to England.
While it is still not confirmed, plenty of Ireland fans expressed their disappointment on social media. We have gathered some of the best reactions below.
https://twitter.com/Antcon7062/status/1057571862585229317
Say it ain't so @_DeclanRice, say it ain't so! 😢
— Michael Carter (@SeamusXavi) October 31, 2018
@_DeclanRice unsubscribe #coybig
— Éire Guide (@eireguide) October 31, 2018
Did it include the fact that GS called up 68 players for England in two years? Near enough every English player in the Premier League seems to get a call-up eventually. If @_DeclanRice falls for that he’ll fall for anything 🙈
— Stephen Finn (@FutsalFinn) October 31, 2018
@_DeclanRice please please please tell me that reports aren’t true. You’ve played 3 games already for us. How in your head feel that it’s right to leave a team after playing only 3 games. Man please reconsider if you already have made it. You’ll be a hated man by 5 million people
— Everything Irish Football (@EverythingIris1) October 31, 2018
Best of luck to Declan Rice on playing for England just disappointed it took three senior caps albeit in friendly games to make the mind up
— Ciara Nash (@Kiks31) October 31, 2018
It might have been criticised as a cynical move but we'll likely be looking back on the failure not to cap Declan Rice against Moldova last year with regret. A Sliding Doors moment.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) October 31, 2018